ͳͲͳ
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY
TRUE/FALSE
F 1. There is an ideal, best way to be an effective family.
T 2. Committed partners may be considered to be in a voluntaristic family.
T 3. Children have replaced older people as the nation’s poorest.
nurturing and socializing children.
means or defining themselves as family.
assistance of the other parent.
ancestors were born.
United States.
contact, and a future that includes the expectation of continuing the
relationships.
ͳͲʹ
maintain members’ internal sense of “we-ness” as well as to reveal or
conceal information about the family to outsiders
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Erik’s mother-in-law and nephew live with him and his wife in their home. Which
category of family does this scenario best illustrate?
A. Single-family
2. Peggy and Warren lived together as committed partners for five years and have one
child. A year after the child’s birth, Warren was killed in an auto accident. Which
category of family does this scenario best illustrate?
D. Partners without children
3. Which of the following definitions is the most inclusive?
A. A family is a blood relationship.
4. Steve exhibits a communicative behavior similar to that of his grandfather and his
father. This is an example of which family communication principle?
A. The definition of family is normative.
5. Communication is constitutive, which means
ͳͲ͵
A. Communication is the key to family happiness.
6. Which of the following vary according to ethnic background?
A. Rates of marriage
7. Who may be considered a stepfamily?
8. “No two children grow up with the same parents.” Why not?
A. Adoption rates are rising and many families consist of biological and adoptive
9. The term open adoption implies:
A. The child had a choice of adoptive parents.
10. More young adults are returning to live at home after a departure (college or
military service) due to:
A. Economic pressure
11. Which types of families seem to be growing in the U.S.?
ͳͲͶ
A. Cohabitating partners
12. Which of the following statements are true for dual-earner couples with children?
D. Parents struggle because they don’t get to spend enough time with their children
13. The poorest segment of the population in the U.S. includes:
A. Recent college graduates
14. Which of the following ethnic groups has the lowest proportion of separated or
divorced individuals?
A. African Americans
15. Which of the following is not true about well-functioning families?
A. They value effective communication
16. A family realm is defined as:
A. Family members who live in the same household
17. According to the role lens of defining families, relationships that can be considered
“family” relationships are those in which:
ͳͲͷ
C. Relational partners share genetic material
18. A distinguishing feature of stepfamilies includes
A. Difficult communication patterns
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Examine your current beliefs about what it means to be a family. Write your
personal answer to the question, “What constitutes a family?” Follow this with a
reflection on the extent to which you believe communication plays a role in the
creation of family ties.
2. Based on your experience or informed speculation, describe three implications of
ethnicity or economics on how family members interact. Give specific examples.
3. What is a “discourse-dependent” family? Based upon the definition, explain why
this type of family is becoming increasingly common in the U.S. Be sure to give at
least 2 specific examples of discourse-dependent families to support your answer.